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GDC 2019: The Women in Gaming Rally 2019 Recap

by Shelly Morris, Program Manager, Gaming Privacy and Women in Gaming Co-Lead Posted on March 21, 2019March 21, 2019

Game Developer’s Conference (GDC) is always an exciting time of year for game developers and the week is already picking up steam. On Tuesday afternoon team Xbox hosted the 19th Annual Women in Gaming Rally in partnership with Activision, Facebook Gaming, Ubisoft, Unity, Women in Gaming International, and YouTube. It was an honor to collaborate with so many great companies who are committed to diversity, and creating a space where women from across the industry could come together and celebrate their role in the gaming industry. Held at the Terra Gallery in San Francisco, we welcomed over 600 industry professionals to engage in how we, as a strong community, can work together... Read more

Sea of Thieves Anniversary Update Celebrates the Start of Year Two on April 30

by Joe Neate, Executive Producer at Rare Posted on March 20, 2019March 20, 2019

Today, we are celebrating a year of adventures in Sea of Thieves! It’s been both humbling and awe-inspiring to see millions of players from all over the world set sail and create their own stories on the Sea of Thieves. On behalf of everyone at Rare, I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who’s played and made Sea of Thieves what it is today. While it’s been an amazing first year, we’re not done yet. With four major updates, nine time-limited events and more than thirty game updates, we’re still just getting started. We’re as excited about Sea of Thieves today as we were a year ago, and I’m pleased to be able to share with you a big reason why - The Anniversary... Read more

Games

GDC 2019: Evolving the ID@Xbox Program for Developers with Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live

by Chris Charla, Senior Director of ID@Xbox Posted on March 20, 2019March 21, 2019

The Game Developers Conference is here again and I’m hecka stoked to join the ID@Xbox team in our annual trip to the San Francisco Bay Area. GDC is an amazing time to highlight new games, catch-up with other developers and friends in the industry and listen to their feedback to continue driving innovation forward for Xbox. 2018 was a fantastic year for developers in the ID@Xbox program and we can’t be more excited to share what we have planned for 2019 with our fans in the coming days and months. Nearly 400 titles were released through the program last year, helping us reach a milestone of over 1,000 titles launched via ID@Xbox. We sent out developer kits to nearly 500 new studios in... Read more

Games

Train Sim World: Main Spessart Bahn Takes You on a First Class Journey

by Matt Peddlesden, Senior Producer, Dovetail Games Posted on March 21, 2019March 21, 2019

We’re very happy to announce the latest expansion Main Spessart Bahn for Train Sim World is now available on Xbox One, featuring a 52km run through the forests and hillsides of central Germany. This has been a real labour of love for our team as we’re introducing a new type of operation, long-awaited new features, and of course the route and locomotives themselves are re-created in incredibly high detail. Whether you’re an experienced rail fan or you’ve never tried a sim in your life, this route is definitely the choice for you if you’re interested in a new challenge. Here are just a few of the things we’re most proud of: The route captures a particularly beautiful part of... Read more

Turn-Based Survival Strategy Game Overland Coming Soon to Xbox One

by Harris Foster, Community Manager, Finji Posted on March 21, 2019March 21, 2019

Over the years, we here at Finji have helped bring radically different games to the Xbox family, including the ominous puzzle-platformer Feist and the award-winning narrative adventure Night in the Woods. We’ve always focused on bringing you beautiful games with wildly different play-styles, and with Overland, we’re changing things up once again. Overland is a turn-based survival strategy game with procedurally generated challenges, characters and scenarios that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Overland is an end-of-the-world roadtrip taking place after an unknown cataclysmic event has crumbled the infrastructure of the United States. You control a team of survivors (of both... Read more

Games

Free Play Days: NBA 2K Playgrounds 2, MX vs ATV All Out, and Vigor

by Vincent Wang, Product Marketing Manager, Xbox Posted on March 21, 2019March 21, 2019

During this weekend’s Free Play Days event, you can ball out in arcade style street ball, go off-roading in bikes and ATVs, and scavenge your way across a post-war Norway. There’s no shortage of fun and action that Xbox Live Gold members can immerse themselves in with NBA 2K Playgrounds 2, MX vs ATV All Out, and Vigor. The Free Play Days event begins Thursday, March 21 at 12:01 a.m. PT and runs through to Sunday, March 24 at 11:59 p.m. PT. You can find and install the games here. To download on console, click on the Gold member area on the home dashboard on your Xbox One. The games are also available for purchase so you can continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and... Read more

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Games

Vigor Xbox One Free Weekend Begins March 21 for Xbox Live Gold Members

by Dominik Jícha, Marketing Manager, Bohemia Interactive Posted on March 21, 2019March 21, 2019

Xbox Live Gold members can play Vigor for free on Xbox One starting today until March 24, which makes this the perfect time to explore the beautiful landscapes of post-war Norway, scavenge for loot amongst other Outlanders in tense map-based encounters and start rebuilding your safe haven amidst a fallen civilization. This free weekend hits shortly after the release of the 0.8 “Signal” update, which brought new content and game events, a player lobby and gesture system, as well as implementing numerous improvements and an enhanced gameplay experience overall. Previous updates 0.7 and 0.6 have already added optional objectives, randomized events, duos mode, improved weapon play... Read more

Games

Enter for Your Chance to Win a Custom Bumblebee Xbox One X Console

by Jenny Miller, Xbox Partnerships Posted on March 21, 2019March 21, 2019

To celebrate the release of “Bumblebee” on the Microsoft Store, Paramount Pictures and Xbox are excited to announce the Bumblebee Custom Console Sweepstakes. In “Bumblebee,” Hailee Steinfeld stars as Charlie, a teenager who finds and befriends the iconic robot, disguised as a Volkswagen Beetle. The two must team up and protect Earth from the evil Decepticons and Agent Burns, played by John Cena. “Bumblebee” is an adventure that’s fun for the whole family. Each custom Bumblebee Xbox One X console includes a 4K Ultra HD digital copy of “Bumblebee.” Enter now for your chance to win at twitter.com/xbox from now until April 2, 2019. Open to registered Xbox Live account... Read more

Games

GDC 2019: Gaming & Disability Community Reception 2019 Recap

by Tara Voelker, Program Manager, Mixer Posted on March 20, 2019March 21, 2019

It’s March in the gaming industry and that means we have come to another Game Developer’s Conference (GDC). We have already kicked off the week with the 2nd annual Gaming & Disability Community Reception! Hosted in partnership with Games Accessibility Conference, a one day series of talks on accessible game design from the IGDA Gaming Accessibility Special Interest Group, the crowd was bigger than ever with over 250 attendees and the conversations about how to bring gaming to more players through inclusive design were inspiring. Held this year at the Children’s Creativity Museum in San Francisco, an innovative art and technology experience for children ages 2-12 and... Read more

Games

Capcom Shares the Secrets to Success in Devil May Cry 5

by Matt Edwards, Community & Esports Manager at Capcom Posted on March 20, 2019March 19, 2019

Dante and Nero are back for more demon-battling action, bringing with them a new character named V in Devil May Cry 5, available now on Xbox One. All three characters are playable in the story, and to make sure Nero has both hands available for hunting demons, Nico – his plucky engineer – has built him a wide range of prosthetic arms called Devil Breakers. Learning the ins and outs of each Devil Breaker is how you’ll maximise Nero’s combo potential and ascend to Smokin’ Sexy Style. These Devil Breakers start out relatively straightforward. The Gerbera lets you dodge like a cannonball and the Overture fires an electrical blast. But as Nico builds more potent Devil... Read more

Games

A Guide to the Javelins of Anthem

by Ellie Day, Writer, Electronic Arts Posted on March 20, 2019March 19, 2019

Whether you like to rush headlong into battle or unleash destruction from a discreet distance, Anthem has the perfect javelin for your preferred playstyle. In this article, we’ll give you an overview of the strengths and weaknesses of each suit, their weapons and abilities, and how to get the most out of them. What Are Javelins? Let’s start with the basics: javelins power your experience in the dangerous and volatile world of Anthem. For centuries, the people of this world lived at its mercy, that is until the Legion of Dawn under the leadership of General Tarsis built the first javelins. They give you the mobility and firepower to take on almost any enemy, while also letting you... Read more: A Guide to the Javelins of Anthem

Gears of War Exclusive Funko Pop! Revealed at ECCC 2019

by Cameron Deuel, Senior Manager of Social at Funko Posted on March 20, 2019March 20, 2019

This past weekend, Gears of War and Funko premiered an exclusive General RAAM Funko Pop! at Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle. As spotted on Instagram last month, the General RAAM Funko Pop! is real and will make your enemies fearful, your friends jealous and make your other Funko Pop! figures envious for how an evil leader like General RAAM can look so… so… cute! But also, super tough. Not only did General RAAM make his debut at ECCC, but Funko announced in January at the London Toy Fair that Queen Myrrah, Marcus Fenix and Boomer will also be joining the Gears of War Funko Pop! collection later this year. Additionally, the Funko team hosted a panel with special guest Greg Juby, Art... Read more

Games

A Refined Cuphead Experience is Coming Soon as Free Content Update

by Chad and Jared Moldenhauer, Co-Founders of StudioMDHR Posted on March 20, 2019March 20, 2019

As we've been hard at work on Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course, we've received so much love from all of our fans that we thought we'd drop one last free content update as just a little thank you. This free patch is coming April 18 and it features a bevy of new features, art, and back end changes readying Cuphead for the adventures ahead. First up, no longer relegated to second fiddle, Mugman is now playable in single-player. Complete with his own level completion jingle, Mugman is selectable from the main menu when starting or continuing any game. Next, we've added tons of new art and animation. The grandest addition is that we've went back and fully animated all our cinematic... Read more

Big Boi of Outkast to Compete in Xbox Game Pass Challenge on Next Xbox Sessions on March 21

by Aaron Greenberg, GM of Games Marketing Posted on March 20, 2019March 20, 2019

Seven-time Grammy® Award-winning artist, rapper, songwriter, record producer, actor and philanthropist, Big Boi, will be joining us for the next Xbox Sessions on March 21! In this episode, Big Boi will take part in the Xbox Game Pass challenge, playing two great games from the Xbox Game Pass library. Tune in on Thursday, March 21 at 4:00 p.m. PT via the Mixer Xbox Channel, Twitch Xbox Channel and YouTube Xbox Channel to see Big Boi’s gaming skills in action! Hosted by Marissa Roberto, Big Boi’s Xbox Sessions episode was filmed on-site at Fader Fort, SXSW – a three-day event featuring entertainment, live performances and the VIP Xbox Game Pass Lounge where emerging artists and... Read more

Games

Coming Soon to Xbox Game Pass – Operencia: The Stolen Sun, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, Vampyr, and More

by Parimal Deshpande, Director of Product Marketing, Xbox Game Pass Posted on March 20, 2019March 21, 2019

Hello fellow Xbox Game Pass fans! It’s only been a hot minute since we last dropped games into your ever-expanding library, but we’re ready to roll with even more (sorry not sorry to the titles waiting in your backlog). Since this is a blog post and not an infomercial, please use your best narrator voice and say, “but wait, there’s more!” right now. Apologies in advance if you start doing that every time we announce more games, because not gonna lie, we plan to continue dropping fresh titles all the time. While we continue workshopping our sure-to-be smash hit, Xbox Game Pass – The Musical, quick reminder that you can check out our game playlists on Spotify while you’re... Read more

Games

Play Overwatch’s Newest Hero Today on Xbox One

by Josh Engen, Community Manager, Overwatch Posted on March 19, 2019March 19, 2019

Suit up as Overwatch’s 30th hero, Baptiste, a versatile combat medic who's not afraid to dole out a few bullets between bandages—available to play starting today. Jean-Baptiste Augustin was one of millions of children orphaned by the Omnic Crisis, the rebellion of robots against their human creators that plunged the planet into a catastrophic war. The devastation he witnessed compelled Baptiste to enlist as a special operative and combat medic in the Caribbean Coalition. He joined for one purpose: to help. But when his service was complete, the demand for his unique skill set dwindled. So, when the Talon mercenary group made him an offer, he accepted. At first, working for Talon... Read more

Games

Apex Legends Season 1 – Wild Frontier, Live Today on Xbox One

by Ashley Reed, Writer, Electronic Arts Posted on March 19, 2019March 18, 2019

Welcome to the Wild Frontier. The first season of Apex Legends starts today, and new Legends, loot, and mysterious surprises are dropping into the arena. Check out what’s in store if you play for free, and learn what you get when you grab the Season 1 Battle Pass. Seasons The Apex Games are just getting started, and expect plenty more good stuff coming through seasons. We drop these massive packs of content regularly throughout the year, and each season brings new Legends, fresh loot, and special events that change the Games. We’re kicking things off with Wild Frontier. The hunt is on, and you can grab the Season 1 Battle Pass to unlock tons of themed rewards as you level.... Read more

New Details Revealed in Our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Interview with Producer Robert Conkey

by Will Tuttle, Xbox Wire Editor in Chief Posted on March 19, 2019March 18, 2019

After its debut on our stage during the Xbox E3 2018 Briefing, From Software’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice quickly became one of our most anticipated games of 2019. After all, what’s not to love about a game that combines dynamic movement, challenging-yet-satisfying combat, just a dab of mythology, and a feudal Japanese setting that’s been underutilized in modern gaming. It’s going to be a lot fun when it releases on March 22, so we were excited to have the chance to chat with Producer Robert Conkey about what fans can expect from this unique Xbox One game. The Dark Souls games were probably best categorized as Action RPGs, but it feels like Sekiro is a different type of game. How... Read more

Games

Sharpen Your Cues and Get Ready for Snooker 19, Launching This Spring on Xbox One

by Simon Livesey, Producer, Ripstone Posted on March 18, 2019March 20, 2019

Can you believe it’s been almost a decade since there was an official World Snooker game? Games have advanced a lot in that time and we’ve been itching to bring snooker back for this generation, harnessing the full power of Xbox One and enhanced for Xbox One X to make it bigger and better than ever! We’re really proud to be bringing snooker back to the fans this year with Snooker 19 and today I have the honour of sharing the the very first gameplay trailer with you, which shows a taste of what you can expect from the sport we absolutely love when the game launches later this Spring. We’ve been working on Snooker 19 in close partnership and collaboration with the sport’s... Read more

Games

Supercharge Your Hockey Ultimate Team with the Team of the Year in NHL 19

by Mitchell South, EA Sports, NHL Writer Posted on March 18, 2019March 18, 2019

The best players in the NHL are ready to join your Hockey Ultimate Team (HUT), arriving in four rosters with the Team of the Year (TOTY). Celebrating hockey's superstars playing at the top of their game this season, the most powerful players of the year are being introduced weekly from March 13 to April 10, giving you the best chance yet to give your dream team a boost. Beginning with a Young Guns quad featuring electrifying players age 23 and under, the most exciting HUT event of the year is here, and your dream team won't be complete without it! Now, let's get into the full details. Event Details On March 13, the TOTY event begins with the introduction of the Young Guns squad, a... Read more

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